Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 15.2
Formal training courses offered to the ARISE employees
Number of
% of
Number of
employees
employees
working days
attending
attending
spent in training
Health and safety
31
10
62
First aid
32
10
64
Basic Condition of Employment Act awareness
323
100
323
Introduction to rehabilitation
129
40
129
Basic ecology
129
40
129
Pest control
321
99
321
Herbicide
321
99
321
Vegetable propagation
44
14
440
Transplanting seedlings
128
40
640
Seedling production
128
40
640
Nursery practice
44
14
1320
HIV and AIDS awareness
321
99
321
Malaria control awareness
321
99
321
HIV and AIDS counseling
321
99
321
Life orientation
321
99
321
Fire fighting
321
99
321
Supervisory course and leadership
18
6
180
Computer skills
18
6
180
Ecotourism/cultural
18
6
180
Conflict management
18
6
180
Registering of a company
14
4
140
Contract development
14
4
14
Totals
3,335
6,868
The respondents indicated that they benefited from these courses by gaining prac-
tical knowledge and a greater understanding of a range of subjects. These included
the practical use of organic fertilizers, gabions, and fences; prevention of soil erosion;
irrigation; planting of trees and crops; fire control; and the use of selective herbicides.
Respondents also confirmed that they had gained useful information about health (in-
cluding HIV/AIDS and TB) and safety.
Potential Improvements of the ARISE Project as Indicated
by the Respondents
The respondents were asked how they thought ARISE was actually functioning. They
were also asked how and what they thought about the future of ARISE after the pilot
phase. The employees raised various issues about the design and operation of the proj-
ect, which we then divided into two categories—working conditions and income, and
productivity. The results are presented in table 15.3. Note that this section of the ques-
tionnaire was, like most other sections, an open section wherein the respondents were
asked to express their personal views. The relatively low percentages do not indicate
that other respondents disagree with the statement. In fact, it may be that they did not
think of that specific improvement at the moment they were asked the question.
